World Championship Review - Day 8 afternoon
Posted on December 27th, 2007
WORLD NUMBER FIVE Andy Hamilton slumped to defeat against Alex Roy at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship on Thursday afternoon.
Hamilton, the runner-up in last month’s Grand Slam of Darts and a semi-finalist at the World Championship 12 months ago, failed to find his spark as the world number 27 progressed to the last 16.
Roy produced one of the best displays of his career to book his place in round three, where he faces John Part.
“He didn’t turn up and I just dug in,” said Roy. “I’m playing well at the moment and I’m pleased to take that onto the stage.
“John Part’s going to have to play well because if I score like I can I can cause him problems.”
Tony Eccles made a miraculous comeback from 3-0 down against Steve Maish to continue his dream debut in the PDC World Championship.
The former Lakeside quarter-finalist survived missed darts for the match from Maish to come back and take the game in a decider.
2005 runner-up Mark Dudbridge set up a third round date with world number three James Wade following a 4-2 win over Ronnie Baxter.
“I came out in blistering form and was ready for a fight in that first set, but Ronnie didn’t really react and my game dipped in the middle,” he said.
“I showed a bit of strength towards the end to keep my arm straight and get over the finishing line, and I’m happy.”
Thursday 27th December 2007
Second Round
Steve Maish 3-4 Tony Eccles
Andy Hamilton 1-4 Alex Roy
Ronnie Baxter 2-4 Mark Dudbridge
Evening Session (7pm Start)
Raymond van Barneveld v Jason Clark
Third Round
Phil Taylor v Alan Tabern
Roland Scholten v Wayne Mardle
TONY ECCLES 4-3 STEVE MAISH
(2-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
TONY ECCLES produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Steve Maish 4-3 and reach the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.
Maish, who defeated Dennis Priestley in the opening round, had established a 3-0 lead and was one leg away from the match in the fourth set, and he also had a dart at tops for match in the sixth before Eccles made a stunning comeback.
“At 3-0 down I thought I was out,” admitted Eccles. “I had nothing to lose and started to feed off Steve, and it came from there.”
Eccles started well at the beginning of the contest, taking the second leg in 14 darts and then breaking Maish’s throw for a 2-1 lead.
But the Essex man hit back to take the fourth leg and then converted an 86 finish, with his opponent waiting on 32, to take the opening set.
Eccles took the first leg of the second set but Maish levelled up with a 110 checkout.
He then hit back-to-back 180s at the start of the third leg to leave a chance of a nine-dart finish. He was unable to hit the seventh treble, but went on take the leg for a 2-1 lead.
Maish missed three chances at double top to take the set, but Eccles could not make him pay for the error and he came back to take the leg for a 2-0 lead.
He then took the third set, which went to a deciding leg, completing a 76 finish for a 3-0 lead.
Maish took a 2-1 lead in the fourth set, landing a 110 finish for the second time in the match.
But Eccles levelled the set with a 13-dart leg and then hit a fantastic 156 checkout to turn the tide.
The man from Hartlepool, making his debut in this event, then reduced the deficit to 3-2, taking the set without reply, which included checkouts of 96 and 70.
He then completed the comeback in the sixth set, despite his opponent having one dart at tops to win the match in the decider.
Eccles was now the dominant force and broke throw at the beginning of the final set and then landed a 104 checkout to go one leg away from the match.
Maish managed to take the third leg but Eccles completed a stunning victory by hitting a 56 finish.
“At 3-0 down you think you’re going home, and I was just waiting to get off the stage,” said Eccles.
“Once he missed the match darts, I think that’s where my comeback began and in the end I was thriving on the pressure.
“The more pressure on me, the better I play. Steve’s a cracking player and he kicked my backside in those first three sets, but it’s the best comeback of my career on TV.
“It will be another fast and furious game against Adrian Lewis next. I know I can’t make as many mistakes against him!”
ALEX ROY 4-1 ANDY HAMILTON
(3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
ALEX ROY marched into round three of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over Andy Hamilton at Alexandra Palace.
The Watford star celebrated his return to form with a comprehensive victory over the number six seed.
Roy landed almost 60 percent of his doubles in a fine display as he set up a last 16 encounter with two-time World Champion John Part.
He set the tone for his performance by hitting a 180 to open the match and taking the first two legs along with winning the opening set 3-1.
He came back from 2-0 down in the second to level, before Hamilton showed his best finishing of the contest to take out 144 for the set.
Roy produced a superb third set to regain the lead, taking out 121 for the first leg and landing further legs of 11 and 14 darts to move 2-1 up.
The Watford man took the fourth set’s opener, and punished Hamilton in the next, when last year’s semi-finalist opened with back-to-back 180s only to miss the seventh dart of a possible nine-darter and then fail to close out the leg.
A 102 finish saw Hamilton hit back and he also took leg four to level, but Roy took the decider in 13 darter on double 16 to further extend his advantage.
Hamilton took the lead in the next set, but further missed doubles cost him dear as Roy swept the next three aside to complete the win.
“He didn’t turn up and I just dug in,” said Roy. “In the second leg he burst a 120 checkout and I took out 124, I knew that would hurt him and I had to keep playing well.
“I’m playing well at the moment anyway and I’m pleased to take that onto the stage.
“I’ve been around a long time and I’ve never done it in the World Championship - it would be nice to show everybody what I’m all about in a nice new venue.”
MARK DUDBRIDGE 4-2 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-0, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
MARK DUDBRIDGE came through a tough contest against Ronnie Baxter to set up a last 16 clash against James Wade at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.
Dudbridge started the match in fantastic fashion, hitting two maximums on his opening two visits to the oche to set up a potential nine-dart finish in the first leg.
He failed to complete the perfect checkout, but went on to take the leg, and further finishes of 78 and 62 where enough to take the opening set without reply.
Baxter started well in the second set, building up a 2-0 lead, but Dudbridge hit back to take the next three legs to double his advantage.
Dudbridge broke throw at the start of the third set, but Baxter took the next two legs after the Bristolian failed to take his chances.
Baxter then had one dart at tops for the set but was unable to convert and Dudbridge hit double 16 to take the set to a deciding leg.
Baxter, though, made no mistake in the fifth leg, landing double eight to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The fourth set went the full distance too, and Baxter had one dart at tops to complete a 79 finish and take the set.
However, he failed with the attempt and Dudbridge stepped in with a 60 checkout to regain his two-set advantage.
Dudbridge opened up a 2-0 lead in the fifth and appeared to be closing in on victory before Baxter came back superbly to take next three legs, including a 137 finish, to keep his hopes alive.
Dudbridge again took the first two legs of the sixth set, breaking throw in the second with a two-dart 86 checkout.
This time he made no mistake and took the next leg in style, completing it in 15 darts to confirm victory.
“I came out in blistering form and was ready for a fight in that first set, but Ronnie didn’t really react and my game dipped in the middle,” he said.
“I need to be in a tough battle and that has shown in my games over the years - I need people to push me because otherwise I go to sleep a little bit.
“I showed a bit of strength towards the end to keep my arm straight and get over the finishing line, and I’m happy.
“I’m in the third round now and very much looking forward to performing to my potential.
“James Wade will go into the game as favourite, he has shown he can do it at the top level this year, but I’m a big game player and looking forward to it.”
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